Doctor Who: The Story & The Engine Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
6. DOWN - "Lagos"
Having previously filmed in South Africa during the Jodie Whittaker era, there's something slightly regressive about realising the hustle and bustle of a West African city in... er... South Wales. What's the Disney money for if not to send our cast out on location?
This artificiality accidentally undercuts the mystery of Omo's barbershop because, from the outside, it doesn't feel like a real life location. It's therefore no surprise when it turns out to be a front for the Barber's nefarious scheme.
Director Makalla McPherson does her best with the set, though, tapping into the uncanny nature of this Nigerian barbershop augmented with strange otherworldly steampunky tech.
The scenes of Ncuti Gatwa moving through the market in Lagos are great; it feels like we've never seen the Doctor do this kind of thing before. However, there's a nagging sense of disappointment that all of this is taking place on a soundstage at Bad Wolf Studios.
Sure, making do is all part of Doctor Who's indefinable magic, but there's a feeling that The Story & the Engine deserved proper location work that was as fresh and vibrant as the script.